'The Boondocks' Will Return for a Third Season

'The Boondocks' is back. Variety reports that after nearly two years off the air, creator Aaron McGruder says his show will return for season 3 in early 2010.

Based on McGruder's 'Boondocks' comic strip, the animated series explores race tensions especially as they relate to the Freeman family. Ten-year-old Hugh Freeman, voiced by Regina King (pictured right with McGruder), usually narrates the story, radiating pride for his African-American culture and expressing criticism and concern for black media portrayals. He is kept in line by his younger brother Riley (also King) and his grandfather Robert (John Witherspoon). Riley's gangster rap influence provides the counterpart to his older brother's Afrocentrism.'The Boondocks' is back. Variety reports that after nearly two years off the air, creator Aaron McGruder says his show will return for season 3 in early 2010.

Based on McGruder's 'Boondocks' comic strip, the animated series explores race tensions especially as they relate to the Freeman family. Ten-year-old Hugh Freeman, voiced by Regina King (pictured right with McGruder), usually narrates the story, radiating pride for his African-American culture and expressing criticism and concern for black media portrayals. He is kept in line by his younger brother Riley (also King) and his grandfather Robert (John Witherspoon). Riley's gangster rap influence provides the counterpart to his older brother's Afrocentrism.

Though critically acclaimed, 'The Boondocks' has been very controversial, especially with its use of the word "n**ga." McGruder has always defended this, saying it adds reality to the show -- but heat from the likes of Rev. Al Sharpton no doubt contributed to the banning of two episodes in the second season, including one involving Rosa Parks getting hit in the head with a piece of fried chicken and another episode that took stabs at BET.

Nonetheless, 'The Boondocks' was nominated for a 2006 NAACP Image Award and picked up a Peabody Award. It was also ranked 94th in an impressive list of the best animated series as compiled by IGN.

'The Boondocks' most recently aired in the spring of 2008 on Adult Swim, though no network has been announced yet for season three of the Sony Pictures produced series.